MEDIA RELEASE

A 34-year-old Mountain View man died Friday (March 9) from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on North Kulani Road, .1 mile north of the Hawaii Belt Road.

Responding to a 10:44 p.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that the victim was walking north on North Kulani Road when he was struck by a vehicle also traveling north. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.

The victim was transported to the Hilo Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead Saturday at 2:38 a.m.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police are looking for a Chevrolet vehicle with damage to the right headlight area of the vehicle. The vehicle may be blue in color. It is unknown if the vehicle is a sedan, pick-up truck or SUV.

Anyone with information regarding this crash or the identity of the driver and vehicle is asked to call Officer Norbert Serrao at 961-8118 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers in Hilo at 961-8300 or in Kona at 329-8181.

This is the 9th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with eight at the same time last year.